MONTPELIER — Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is demanding that states be given a greater oversight role in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

Sanders told members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday that he was dissatisfied with their answers on the degree to which states should have power over the dismantling of retired nuclear plants.

NRC Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane told Sanders and his fellow members of the Senate Environment Committee that NRC rules allow a local advisory board to offer input on the decommissioning process.

Sanders replied by saying he wants the rules to change to allow states to have greater authority.

The issue has arisen in Vermont since Vermont Yankee nuclear plant owner Entergy Corp. announced last summer that the plant would close at the end of 2014.